Index element for card-index systems.



J. H. RAND.

INDEX ELEME-M'FOR CARD INDEX SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 9 1916.

Pwmmbedl m. 4,191?

Ill

JAMES H. RAND, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

INDEX ELEMENT FOR CARD-INDEX SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Wee. I, :Wff.

Application filed October 9, 1916. Serial No. 124,505.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. RAND, a citizen of the United States, and resident of North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Index Elements for Card-Index Systems, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to card index sys toms of the kind wherein a series of cards or similar indexed elements are supported in a suitable frame one above another in overlapped spaced relation. In indexes of this character the cards are usually supported by a bar or strip to which the card is secured at one edge, said strip providing laterally extending projections at each side 'of the card removably engaging inwardly facing guide channels on the frame. This invention has to do particularly with the construction of the individual index elements for card systems of this general character, and consists in the novelfeatures of construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a face view of an index card containing the invention;

Fig. 2 1s a'section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a ,face view illustrating a modification; and

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4- of Fig. 3.

a represents the card body which has one margin bent to form an ofi'set portion 6, preferably in the form of a box-like structure and preferably substantially rectangular in cross section, as shown. The face of the offset portion 6 stands in relief from the face of the card body. Ihis offset portion or box-like structure I) is preferably formed by bendirg the margin of the sheet material of which the card is formed first forwardly, then upwardly, and then rearwardly, the bent margin terminating substantially in the plane of the body of the card, as shown in Fig. 2, and leaving the fourth or rear side of the box-like structure open. This structure is substantially rectangular in cross section and is formed integrally with the body of the card. It constitutes a supporting and stifiening element and may be extended at either. side of the card beyond the edges of the card to form supporting projections 12, b, for engaging the inwardly facing guide channels of the index frame.

Instead of using the ends of the box-like structure I) for engaging the frame channels, a sheath 0 of transparent material such as sheet celluloid, slightly longer than .the width of the card and having its ends inserted in the guide channels in the frame, may be used. Said sheath 0 preferably conforms in cross section to the shape of the box-like structure 6, and the latter may be inserted or removed endwise through the sheath, in which it has a sliding fit. The lower wall 0 of the sheath is bent rcarwardly and the upper part is'bent rearwardly and downwardly as shown at 0 whereby a longitudinal opening is provided between a and a? through which the body a of the card projects. When the sheath is used and the ends of the oflset b are not relied upon to engage the guide channels of the frame, the lateral extensions 6 may, if desired, be omitted; and also the rearwardly bentpart of the offset portion extending backward from the top edge of the ofl'set face 2), may be omitted. The face of the offset maybe used if desired for receiving index characters or an desired inscription appropriate to the subject matter on the card body a.

I claim:

1. An index card having one margin bent to form anofi'set box-like structure substantially rectangular in cross section formed integrally with the card and standing in relief from the face of the card.

2. An index card having one'margin bent to form an ofi'set box-like structure having three sides substantially rectangular in cross section, the fourth side being open, formed integrally with the card and standing in relief from the face of the card.

3. An index card having one margin bent to form an ofl'set box-like structure formed integrally with the card and standing in re said oifset portion. on the card may be inserted or removed endwlse, sald sheath havmg a longitudinal opening through which 10 the body of the card projects.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

this 22nd day of September, 1916.

JAMES H. RAND. 

